Spa holiday in Norway

Unfortunately, our late departure time meant that we were late arriving in Bergen, and everyone had to leave the ship to clear passport control on arrival. We arrived at just after midnight, so there were plenty of sleepy children milling around, waiting for all the 1,760 passengers to disembark and for the crew to check that the ship was empty.

Another foible of the trip is that you have to leave the ship about 6am the following morning. I say 'about' as no-one seemed to know for sure, and all travellers seemed to be told different times. When Kate and I left at 6.30am, we were told that we'd missed breakfast, which apparently had been served between 5 and 6am! This was the only time that the information service onboard the ship let us down, and many of our fellow passengers' grumbles could have been avoided by some basic information.

Soothing atmosphere

We then transferred to the Solstrand Hotel, 30km south of Bergen. Owned and run by the Schau-Larsen family for four generations, this hotel has a tranquil and relaxed atmosphere. The owner, Borrea Schau-Larsen, is very hands-on, and welcomed us warmly on arrival. She's also present at meal times, and chats amiably with guests as they dine.

The rooms were spacious and comfortable and the whole place has a soothing feel to it. The restaurant and many of the rooms look out towards the fjord, providing fantastic views of, in our case, some fairly dramatic storms! You start to unwind the moment you're checked in and it really is a peaceful place to visit. There are plenty of lounges and open spaces where you can get a complimentary cup of tea or coffee and just sit back and watch the world go by.

The hotel also has a swimming pool with two saunas, a eucalyptus steam room and plenty of loungers on which to recline and enjoy the view. There's also a fitness room, with gym equipment, if you feel the need to be more energetic.

When we visited in July, building works were underway for a new outdoor swimming pool and hydrotherapy pool (with bubble rack). When these are completed, I'm sure they will be superb, as there is something quite magical about lounging in warm water, watching the stars.

The hotel also houses a spa with 13 treatment rooms for massage, body wraps and facials. The rooms are light and spacious and the treatment I had was superb. I chose a full-body mud pack at NOK 770 (about £65) and was smothered in Hungarian mud which is supposed to be good for your skin and circulation. Wrapped tightly in a cocoon of cling film, I was given a mini-facial and face massage, while the minerals in the mud worked their magic. It was totally relaxing.

I also had their Golden Moments treatment which was a foot, hand and scalp massage. Although lovely, at NOK 420 (about £36), this is probably a treat you'd want to save for special occasions!

Solstrand is about a 20-minute walk from the nearest town of Os, so we ate dinner at the hotel. DFDS do offer the option of including dinner in your package, and I'd recommend you do this. The hotel prides itself on its fine cuisine and the set menu, which consisted of an appetiser, starter, main course, dessert and coffee, didn't disappoint. It isn't cheap, at NOK 780 (about £70) for two without wine, but was delicious.

Need to know

Solstrand Hotel and Spa Holiday - Norway with DFDS Seaways

• Prices per person from £651 (based on 2 ppl sharing)
• Travelling in a 2-berth commodore cabin
• Carriage of one standard vehicle
• 5-nights hotel accommodation at Solstrand spa, in a twin bedded room including breakfasts

No meals included while onboard and no transfers are included as this is a car-based holiday, with the carriage of one standard vehicle included in the price.

The Solstrand Hotel and Spa is 30 km south of Bergen.
www.solstrand.com

Don't expect this to be a cheap holiday. Norway is jaw-droppingly expensive, especially when you're used to cheap European breaks.